Some unexpected rain didn’t deter guests from attending Melissa O’Donnell’s (FKA O’Faherty) first solo exhibition with Solomon Fine Art. In fact most of the works in her “Beautiful Decay” exhibition were “red-dotted” before the opening, so she had lots to celebrate. Three of Melissa’s children, Eoin, Zoe and Lucy were there to support her before she jetted off to Paris to attend the Sotheby’s Irish Art Sale, where she is one of a very small number of important contemporary artists on show.

Perhaps O’Donnell’s popularity is because her exhibition offers a contemporary take on botanical art while paying tribute to past masters and historical depictions of this genre. Listing the Surrealists as an important influence on her work, O’Donnell employs similar techniques such as automatic drawing and free-form mark making as she strives to tap into the subconscious and transport herself and subsequently the viewer into a familiar yet somewhat unexpected atmosphere.

Ruth Monahan of Appassionata Flowers collaborated with the gallery to create two stunning floral arrangements to accompany the exhibition and perfumer Marija Aslimoska of Perfumarija provided a delicious fragrance (Radical Rose by Matiere Premiere) to defuse in the gallery making the opening exhibition a multi-sensory experience!

In attendance were Patrick T Murphy, director of the Royal Hibernian Academy, writer and anthropologist Sara O’Rourke who contributed the text to the exhibition catalogue. Also in attendance Newstalk’s Dr Ciara Kelly; writer and critics Niall McMonagle and Brian Fallon; film maker Ruairi Fallon as well as artists Serena Caulfield, Liz O’Kane, James Hanley, Stephanie Hess and Michelene Huggard. Other guests included photographer Conor Horgan; former Arts Council chair Olive Braiden, Seamus Moran, Justine Keane and Ruth Hussey.
Beautiful Decay runs until May 27 at Solomon Fine Art, Balfe Street, Dublin 2; www.solomonfineart.com

Click into the gallery below to see all the guests who attended.

Photographer: Kenneth O’Halloran.

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